Guides
Importing & exporting a dog
Two processes run in parallel: the government’s, which decides whether the dog may travel, and the club’s, which decides whether its pedigree travels with it.
Plate 31 · TravelA dog in an airline crate at Norman Manley, handler with paperwork in hand. Replaces the current stock photograph of a Ukrainian pet passport.
Start earlier than you think. The government side is measured in months, not weeks, and the sequence of vaccinations and tests cannot be compressed.
The government side
Importation of dogs and cats into Jamaica is controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture under the Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act. Permits, approved countries of origin, vaccination schedules, testing windows and quarantine requirements are all set there and change from time to time — always work from the Ministry’s current guidance rather than advice from a forum or a previous importer.
The club side — bringing a dog in
To place an imported dog on the JKC register you need its export pedigree from the registry it came from, issued in the dog’s current registered name. Import registration is J$4,000. Do this promptly: a dog whose overseas registration is never transferred cannot be shown here, and its progeny cannot be recorded.
The club side — sending a dog out
A dog leaving Jamaica needs a JKC export pedigree — a certified three-generation pedigree that the receiving registry will accept. It costs J$6,000 and takes time to prepare, so apply well before the travel date rather than the week of the flight.
A note on why this matters
The reason a JKC export pedigree is accepted overseas is the same reason the register is worth defending at home. It is recognised because the standards are recognised and the records are continuous. Every forged card sold on this island is a small withdrawal from that account.